Sometimes A Girl Just Needs A Ride

I just have to give a glowing review to GoSedan. I booked town car service through them on the recommendation of Weemz and let me just say, they were fantastic. My first driver was waiting to pick me up and he was very professional. He was attentive to the fact that I was on a very tight schedule and he was great at avoiding the parking lot that tends to be the LA freeway system.

My next driver was actually early picking me up from my hotel which was kind of surprising given the time of morning. This guy was the best. He even found an open Starbucks on the way to the airport without my asking him to do so. Just mentioned it as he neared, asking if I'd like him to stop. Now, here's the thing: if you follow me on Twitter, you know that Starbucks is my mothership. I guzzle that stuff like there is no tomorrow. This scored major points with me. I could have kissed him I was so excited.

If you're looking for car service in the LA area, I highly recommend GoSedan. I was very pleased with the prices, the drivers and the overall service. I will certainly use them the next time I'm in LA.

Beverly Hills, That's Where I Want To Be...

The Mosaic Hotel - Beverly Hills, California - A Review

I had the absolute pleasure of traveling to LA for an event for one of my favorite tv shows and then as a real treat, I even got to go on a date (lol) with one of my favorite fellow bloggers, the absolutely amazing, hilarious and surprisingly romantic, WeezerMonkey.

Anyway, I tend to favor the Beverly Wilshire, but this trip was one hell of a whirlwind and since I was basically going to be in my room to sleep and not much else, I searched for a cheaper alternative. One of my main considerations was that it be close to the venue. I didn't really research the Mosaic too much before hand so I wasn't totally sure what to expect. I'm glad I gave it a chance.

The location is prime, within easy walking distance of some of the best shopping Beverly Hills has to offer. It is off on a smaller side street so it really feels quite residential.

The set up of the hotel was interesting. First and foremost, it is a boutique hotel. When you walk in, the "front desk" is right in your path. Unlike many hotels, however, this isn't a counter. It is more like a concierge desk with only one person working it. Check in itself was quick and welcoming. They put me in a room on the top floor which was insanely quiet. Frankly, this has been one of the quietest hotel rooms I've been in in some time. The room was on the smaller side compared to many but it was quite comfortable. The bath features products by Bvlgari which is a very nice touch. The room was absolutely immaculate.

The hotel does have a small pool area which my room overlooked. It is very small (don't stay here if you're looking for a "scene") but they made great use of the space. Lots of pretty lights at night too.

Complimentary car service in the house Mercedes is available to guests within three miles of the hotel. I did take advantage of this and found the service to be very good. Another great touch.

While the Mosaic did lack the finesse of higher end properties, it truly was not a big deal and I was perfectly happy with my stay. If you want a nice place to stay in Beverly Hills without the high price tags of the Beverly Wilshire, Montage, etc... absolutely consider this one.

PS - Sorry about the crappy photos. They were taken at around 2:00 in the morning with my camera phone so they suck. My digital camera was dead by then as I hadn't charged it, but these are better than nothing. Well, maybe...

I'm Not Dead (Yet.)

I'm still alive. I know I've been MIA. That said, I'm coming back. Things have been crazy in the Blake household lately so blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. Thank you for sticking with me! New SF (and fashion!) entries to come. I hope 2010 has been treating you well thus far!